For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something outward and in the flesh.

Certainly not! Let God be true, though every man a liar. As it is written: "That you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged."

Why, one will hardly die for a righteous manthough perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die.

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the rest to share the root of the olive tree,

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only by faith. So do not be proud, but stand in awe.

For if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!